COMMON SKIN DISEASE OF DOG CAUSED BY MITES

COMMON SKIN DISEASE OF DOG CAUSED BY MITES. *MANGE DUE TO DEMODEX*
During treatment of Demodectic Mange, Pet owners should understand that;
DEMODEX Parasite(Mites)   lives in deep location in the skin dermis the mites are
not readily accessible to topically applied acaricides, so that repeated treatment is necessary and rapid results should not be expected.

In localized squamous form of disease as, i explained below;
mange recovery may be expected in 1-2 months,

But in the generalized pustular form the prognosis should  indicate that recovery will take at least three months, and should, even so, be guarded.

DEMODECTIC MANGE OF DOGS

OCCURANCE
Probably because of nature of the parasite, its location deep in the dermis, it is almost impossible to transmit Demodex between
animals unless there is prolonged contact.

In nature such contact occurs only during suckling
and it is thought that most infections are acquired in the early weeks of life, the commensal population in
the skin of the bitch  being transferred to the in-contact
areas of the pup. Certainly, it is in these areas, the
muzzle, face, periorbital region and forelimbs that lessions first appear.


 SIGNS
OF DEMODECTIC MANGE
Early in infection there is a slight loss of hair on the face and forelimbs, followed by thickening of the skin,
and the mange may progress no further than the incontact areas; many of these localized mild infections resolve spontaneously without treatment. On the other hand, lesions may spread over the entire body, and this generalized demodicosis may take one of two
 forms:

(1) Squamous demodicosis is the less serious. It is a
Skin reaction. with little skin reddening. but widespread loss of hair, desquamation and thickening of the skin. In some cases of this types only the face and paws are involved.


(2) Pustular or follicular demodicosis is the severe
form, and follows bacterial invasion of the lessions, often by staphylococci. The skin becomes wrinkled and thickened, with many small pustules from which serum, pus and blood ooze, giving this form its common name of 'red mange affected dogs have an offensive odour. Prolonged treatment is necessary, and
survivors may be severely disfigured.


*A notable feature of all types of demodectic mange is the absence of pruritus.*

The pathogenesis of Demodex is more complex
than that of other mange mites because immune factors appear to play a large part in its occurrence and severity.


 It is thought that certain bitchcs carry a genetically transmitted factor which results in immunodeficiency in offspring, making them more susceptible to mite invasion, and it has been observed that litter mates from such a bitch often develop the generalized form of demodectic mange simultaneously even though they have heen reared separately.

 In addition. Demodex itself is thought to cause a cell-mediated immunodeficiency which suppresses the normal T-lymphocytc response; this defect disappears when the mites have been eradicated from the animal.

Demodectic mange may erupt when dogs are given immunosuppressants for other conditions.

DIAGNOSIS
For confirmatory diagnosis, deep scrapings are necessary to reach the mites deep in the follicles and glands. and this is best achieved by taking a fold of skin. applying a drop of liquid paraffin, and scraping until  capillary blood appears.

*NOTE*
 Even in normal dogs a few commensal mites may be found in the material, but the presence of a high proportion of larvae and
nymphs will indicate a rapidly increasing population, and results to an active infection.

By Dr Riziki Ngogo. DVM

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